Nikon D5200 : a serious upgrade to the D5100

The Nikon D5200 is a fusion of the latest generation D5100 and the more advanced D7000 with a glimpse of the D3200 (at least, the sensor).

I barely doubt on that : this is certainly the same 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor as we discovered in the D3200 which is reused by Nikon in the today announced D5200, an important D5100 evolution of which it takes a new position midway between an entry level DSLR and an advanced camera. This new 24-megapixel Digital SLR can record Full HD movies until 60i and some may miss a 60p mode for serious movies although it has some 24p and 30p settings too. Its user interface is built on the D5100 yet embedding a brand new graphical user interface for its menus but the controls, viewfinder (pentamirror / 95% coverage) remain the same. So the D5200 benefits from the Vari-angle screen, 3 “/ 921,000 dots. It also gets a few new art filters. But finally, in addition to the step forward made by the new 24MP sensor (note the D5100 16MP sensor is still excellent), the big step forward is brought by both the new AF and exposure metering sensors which are borrowed to the D7000 if you please… So the Nikon D5200 will benefit from the 39-points AF module (Multi-Cam 4800DX) including 9 cross type sensors that we love on the D7000 for being so efficient, fast, accurate and offering a very decent AF-tracking mode that I assume to be also as good on the D5200 thanks to the new EXPEED 3 processor on board. But the exposure metering of the D5200 also makes a giant leap forward : the D5200 gets the 2016 RGB pixels scene recognition sensor of the D7000 as well. These two features make the D5200 a much more advanced camera than the D5100 was at launch. Nikon tends to upgrade all its new cameras as they renew their ranges. I like that.

In spite of the poor viewfinder and not so efficient ergonomics, I tend to like the 5200 which is an interesting upgrade over the D5200 and not just a simple evolution. Nikon did more than only adding a new pixel overloaded sensor on the D5100 camera body and brought new stuff, good stuff, that will benefit to the amateur photographers. Yet, I really expected Nikon to gift its mid range DSLR with the 2013 most wanted feature : Wi-Fi ! And no, no built-in Wi-Fi, no built-in GPS neither… I am disappointed even though they add the accessory plug-in that will accept the GP-1 external sensor and the WU-1a Wi-Fi module but these are both optional and external which makes 2 hassles. The Nikon Wu-1a Wi-Fi module allows the camera to connect to a Wi-Fi network or a smartphone / tablet to share and backup its photos and videos and may be remotely controlled from your portable device.

Nikon D5200 is the sold €879 euros in Europe with the 18-55mm VR lens and will be available in December right on time for Christmas.

Nikon D5200 : gallery

Nikon D5200 vari-angle screen : 3″ / 921,000 dots. Perfect. Can be useful to protect it when traveling, folding the screen with the external shield out.

OK for recording video, the Nikon D5200 has a built-in mic plug which will improve the sound capture quality.

The Nikon D5200 is a fusion of the latest generation D5100 and the more advanced D7000 with a glimpse of the D3200 (at least, the sensor).

The Nikon D5200 still offers the slightly too small for my taste pentamirror viewfinder as the D3200/D5100. It is also a bit unprecise and not respectful of your composition with an image coverage of 95%. But pricewise, did Nikon had any choice ? Yes, they had. Look at the Pentax K-30 sold for less than the Nikon D5200 and offering a weather sealed camera body with a decent pentaprism viewfinder.

The Nikon D5200 offers a new GUI with redesigned and more easy to understand commands / settings / photography tips

The D5200 still has scene modes and shorcut presets for portraits, landscapes… I like that. It is always handy. Its flash hotshot is compatible with i-TTL and its built-in pop-up flash can control multiple flashes, wireless, with Nikon’s CLS system.

Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses. Autofocus is notavailable with other type G and D lenses, AF lenses (IX NIKKOR and lensesfor the F3AF are not supported), and AI-P lenses. Non-CPU lenses can beused in mode M, but the camera exposure meter will not function.
The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have amaximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.

TTL: i-TTL flash control using 2016-pixel RGB sensor is available withbuilt-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400; i-TTLbalanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weightedmetering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering

Unless otherwise stated, all figures are for a camera with a fully-charged battery operating at the temperature specified by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA): 23 &#177;3 &#176;C (73.4 &#177;5.4 &#176;F).